Bridges

[fbhjr]

There used to be some people I counted amongst my best of friends. The year after we got married, they spent all but 4 weekends staying at our place. We went on vacations together. We saw them several times a week. They had been our best man and maid of honor at our wedding, and we had been the same at theirs.
For many years we spent our Christmas Eve nights with them and their family rather than our own families.

Then, it all fell apart.

Now I count one of them as one of the people who I will dance on their grave given the chance.

And, this week the mother of that person died. My wife was invited to the funeral and as we had plans to meet my aunt today not all that far from the funeral, I drove her to it.

After dropping her off at the funeral home, I said “why not drive by the house?”
After all, I had spent a quarter of the Christmas Eve’s I’ve lived through there. No one was going to be there because they’d all be at the funeral of one of their family.
I have a certain nostalgia for some things, and it didn’t seem like it would hurt for me just to drive by that place where so many happy memories had taken place.

So, I turned onto the road I had followed so many times before.
And, found the bridge to my ex-friends old house had been destroyed.


Wow.
I thought the concept of burning bridges was just a metaphor.
I guess not.


But, one of my defining characteristics is that I’m stubborn.
You think a destroyed bridge is enough to stop me?
Not a chance.
So, I drove the long way around to the next bridge and back.


Then, with more time to kill, I got out and walked around.
It turns out they turned the old train track into a bike path.



It is a very nice walk.

Even if a bit warm today in the sun.

That done, I got back to the funeral home just as the service was getting out, picked up my wife and we went off to the beach with my family.

I know that family is more than the people who share your genetic material. You can choose who fits your family if not your genes. But, having chosen wrong in the past, I was happy to see my aunt today.

Comments

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

no that's taking a metaphor to the next level.

*hug*

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

It was pointed out to me that my taking the long way around and going anyhow was also a metaphor. That even after bridges are burnt, you can get back there if you are willing to put the work into it.
Personally I'm not as sure about that one. The bridges in question are very far away and I'm not sure they could make the trip. And, I am sure they don't have interest in doing so.
But, it is an interesting point...

[cissa.livejournal.com]

Alas- I seem to be really good at burning bridges, even when I don't want to.

I really loved having you guys here for holiday dinner, and I hope you'll consider it again. :)